This section of the FEDERAL REGISTER

contains documents other than rules or

proposed rules that are applicable to the

public. Notices of hearings and investigations,

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rulings, delegations of authority, filing of

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examples of documents appearing in this

section.

Notices Federal Register

12946 

Vol. 73, No. 48 

Tuesday, March 11, 2008 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

Natural Resources Conservation 

Service 

Pine Barren Creek Watershed, 

Escambia County, AL 

AGENCY: Natural Resources 

Conservation Service (NRCS) in 

Alabama, U.S. Department of 

Agriculture. 

ACTION: Notice of a Finding of No 

Significant Impact. 

SUMMARY: The Pine Barren Creek 

Watershed is a federally assisted action 

authorized for planning under Public 

Law 83–566, the Watershed Protection 

and Flood Prevention Act. An 

environmental assessment was 

undertaken in conjunction with the 

development of a watershed plan that 

outlines alternatives for flood reduction 

within the City of Atmore, Alabama. 

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: 

Shannon Weaver, Assistant State 

Conservationist for Natural Resources. 

(334) 887–4533 or e-mail: 

shannon.weaver@al.usda.gov. 

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The 

Supplemental Watershed Plan describes 

a plan for reduction of flooding at 

Atmore, Alabama. The plan will be 

implemented by providing financial and 

technical assistance through a local 

sponsor. The project measures described 

within the plan will reduce the 

potential for flooding within the 

watershed and will also reduce the 

potential risk to human health and 

safety. The Environmental Assessment 

indicates that this Federal action will 

not cause significant adverse local, 

regional, or national impacts on the 

environment. 

Dated: February 19, 2008. 

Gary Kobylski, 

State Conservationist. 

Finding of No Significant Impact for 

Pine Barren Creek Watershed, 

Escambia County, Alabama, January 

2008 

Introduction 

The Pine Barren Creek Watershed is a 

federally assisted action authorized for 

planning under Public Law 83–566, the 

Watershed Protection and Flood 

Prevention Act. An environmental 

assessment was undertaken in 

conjunction with the development of 

the supplemental watershed plan. This 

assessment was conducted in 

consultation with local, State, and 

Federal agencies as well as with 

interested organizations and 

individuals. The Supplemental 

Watershed Plan and Environmental 

Assessment are available for public 

review at the following locations: 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, 175 Ag 

Science Drive, Suite 

A, Brewton, Alabama.

Altmore Public Library, 

700 E. Church Street, 

Atmore, Alabama 

U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation 

Service, 3381 Skyway 

Drive, Auburn, Alabama.

City Hall, City of 

Atmore, 201 East 

Louisville Ave., 

Atmore, Alabama. 

Brewton Public Library, 

206 West Jackson 

Street, Brewton, Alabama. 

Recommended Action 

The Supplemental Watershed Plan 

describes a plan for reduction of 

flooding in Atmore, Alabama. The plan 

will be implemented by providing 

financial and technical assistance 

through a local sponsor. 

The principal project measures are to: 

1. Deepen an existing channel located 

in the headwaters of Pine Barren Creek. 

2. Install a grade stabilization 

structure. 

3. Modify an existing weir structure. 

4. Install reinforced concrete pipe 

laterals within the residential area of 

Atmore. 

Effects of Recommended Action 

The project measures will reduce the 

potential for flooding within the 

watershed and will also reduce the 

potential risk to human health and 

safety. The modified weir structure will 

be designed to release no more water 

than that which was released prior to 

project implementation. Thus, the 

creation of additional flow downstream 

during storm events will be avoided. 

Wildlife habitat will not be disturbed 

during installation of the structural 

work of this project. No wetlands, 

wildlife habitat, fisheries, prime 

farmland, or cultural resources will be 

destroyed or threatened by this project. 

The value of woodland habitat will not 

decline. Fishery habitats will also be 

maintained. 

No endangered or threatened plant or 

animal species will be adversely 

affected by the project. 

There are no wilderness areas in the 

watershed. 

Alternatives 

Five alternative plans were 

considered in project planning. No 

significant adverse environmental 

impacts are anticipated from installation 

of the selected alternative. Also, the 

planned action is the most practical and 

cost effective means of reducing 

flooding in the watershed. 

Consultation—Public Participation 

Flooding and water quality concerns 

in the Pine Barren Creek Watershed 

were expressed by local citizens, City of 

Atmore officials, Escambia County Soil 

and Water Conservation District, and 

other regional residents. NRCS 

personnel in partnership with the City 

of Atmore, explored alternatives to 

relieve flooding problems, while 

maintaining water quality in Pine 

Barren Creek. Two interagency meetings 

were held to gather input from local, 

state, and federal government agencies. 

In addition, two public meetings were 

held in Atmore to gather public input 

and concerns. 

At the initiation of the planning 

process, meetings were held between 

NRCS and the City of Atmore to discuss 

problem identification and PL–566 

requirements. A public meeting was 

held in June 26, 2003 to scope the 

problems and concerns and to explain 

impacts of the PL–566 

programinitiatives relative to a 

watershed project and discuss possible 

solutions. 

In order to further publicize this 

planning effort, a public announcement 


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Federal Register / Vol. 73, No. 48 / Tuesday, March 11, 2008 / Notices 12947 

was made to State and Federal agencies 

by letter and to local landowners 

through local newspapers to announce 

the change in project purpose. 

Evaluations and alternative solutions 

were developed with the Sponsor and 

other officials. The Recommended Plan 

was agreed upon. 

Another public meeting was on May 

31, 2007. The results of surveys, studies, 

field investigations and the Alternatives 

Plans were presented to the public. The 

Selected Plan was shared with those in 

attendance. 

Based on Field Inspections to 

determine the quality and quantity of 

resources that would be impacted by 

selected practices and to consider 

possible mitigation measures, it has 

been determined that an Environmental 

Impact Statement (EIS) is not needed for 

this project. Based on the type of 

practices and systems that are planned, 

installation on previously disturbed 

land, an Environmental Assessment 

(EA) was prepared. 

Upon review of the Pine Barren Creek 

Watershed Plan–EA, this Finding of No 

Significant Impact (FONSI) was 

prepared. These documents are being 

distributed to all concerned agencies, 

groups, and interested individuals. A 

Notice of Availability of the FONSI is 

being published in the Federal Register. 

Agency consolations and public 

participation to date has shown no 

conflicts with the implementation of the 

selected plan. 

Conclusion 

The Environmental Assessment 

summarized above indicates that this 

Federal action will not cause significant 

adverse local, regional, or national 

impacts on the environment. Therefore, 

based on the above findings, I have 

determined that an environmental 

impact statement for the recommended 

Pine Barren Creek Supplemental 

Watershed Plan is not required. 

Dated: February 19, 2008. 

Gary Kobylski, 

State Conservationist. 

[FR Doc. 08–993 Filed 3–10–08; 8:45 am] 

BILLING CODE 3410–16–M 

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE 

International Trade Administration 

Mission Statement 

AGENCY: Department of Commerce. 

ACTION: Notice. 

Mission Statement; Assistant 

Secretarial Trade Mission to Vietnam; 

June 16–20, 2008 

I. Mission Description 

The United States Department of 

Commerce, International Trade 

Administration, U.S. Commercial 

Service is organizing a Trade Mission to 

Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 

June 16–20, 2008, to be led by Assistant 

Secretary for Trade Promotion and 

Director General of the U.S. and Foreign 

Commercial Service Israel Hernandez. 

The mission will focus on helping 

U.S. companies launch or increase their 

export business in the Vietnamese 

market. The mission will help 

participating firms gain market 

information, make business and 

government contacts, solidify business 

strategies, and advance specific projects, 

towards the goal of increasing U.S. 

exports to Vietnam. The mission will 

include business-to-business 

matchmaking appointments with local 

companies, as well as meetings with key 

government officials, and American and 

local chambers of commerce. The 

delegation will be comprised of U.S. 

firms representing a cross section of 

U.S. industries with commercial 

interests in Vietnam. 

II. Commercial Setting 

With a GDP of $61 billion and a 

young population of 84 million, 

Vietnam is one of the fastest growing 

economies in Asia (8.4% growth in 

2006) and a new member of the World 

Trade Organization (WTO) (January 11, 

2007). Since the signing of the U.S.- 

Vietnam Bilateral Trade Agreement in 

2001, two-way trade has increased from 

about $1.5 billion (2001) to $9.7 billion 

(2006). Total U.S. merchandise exports 

to Vietnam in 2006 reached $1.1 billion, 

and in 2007, U.S. exports grew by an 

estimated 65.1% over the previous year. 

Industrial production continues to 

grow at 14–15% per annum, as the 

country follows an increasingly 

sophisticated foreign investment- and 

export-led growth strategy in such 

industries as agriculture and 

aquaculture, furniture, textiles and now 

consumer electronics. Over the past five 

years, multilateral development banks 

have expanded loan portfolios to fund 

aggressive infrastructure (transportation, 

energy, telecommunications) growth 

and will continue to do so into the 

foreseeable future. New WTO marketopening commitments will continue to 

be phased in through 2015, making it 

easier for U.S. companies to open 

businesses and sell and distribute 

products in most major sectors. The 

telecommunications, power production, 

and oil and gas equipment markets are 

well above $2.0 billion each and 

growing significantly each year. IT 

infrastructure, financial services, 

environmental products, aviation and 

airport equipment, security, mining, 

medical devices and franchising present 

further lucrative selling opportunities 

for U.S. exporters. Also, industrial 

inputs ranging from raw materials to 

sophisticated manufacturing technology 

are needed to fuel the Vietnam 

government’s export-led growth 

strategy. Rising incomes in Ho Chi Minh 

City and Hanoi, which tend to be four 

times the national average, are opening 

visible new selling opportunities for 

consumer goods producers and servicesector providers. 

Vietnam’s government has 

successfully privatized a few small 

State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs), and 

will continue to do so. However, in 

major economic sectors such as energy, 

banking, telecommunications, oil and 

gas, and shipping, the government will 

‘‘equitize’’ (offer shares of large state 

corporations to investors while 

maintaining a majority stake) SOEs over 

the next five to ten years. While 

challenges remain for U.S. companies 

doing business in Vietnam, evolving 

and improving regulatory and 

commercial law regimes are beginning 

to address business corruption, weak 

intellectual property rights enforcement 

and a lack of transparency and 

consistency. The mission is designed to 

assist U.S. companies to identify and 

capture these opportunities. 

III. Mission Goals 

The Business Development Mission to 

Vietnam will help U.S. firms initiate or 

expand their exports to Vietnam’s 

leading industry sectors by providing 

business-to-business introductions, 

market access information, and 

information on U.S. Government trade 

financing programs. 

IV. Mission Scenario 

The Business Development Mission to 

Vietnam will include stops in Hanoi 

and Ho Chi Minh City. In each city, 

participants will: 

• Meet with government officials. 

• Meet with potential buyers, agents/ 

distributors and partners. 

• Attend briefings by Embassy 

officials on the economic and 

commercial climates. 

Receptions and other business events 

will be organized to provide mission 

participants with further opportunities 

to speak with local business and 

government representatives, as well as 

U.S. business executives living and 

working in the region. 


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